Jervy Cruz so sorry to learn collision with Fonacier led to broken rib, collapsed lung

NLEX forward Larry Fonacier is still in hospital recovering from his injuries. PBA Images

JERVY Cruz felt sorry that an accidental collision with Larry Fonacier two weeks ago has turned to a serious injury for the NLEX gunner.

The soft-spoken Ginebra big man was surprised upon learning Fonacier has been ruled out for the rest of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup following their mid-air collision during the Petron Saturday Special game in Legazpi City which the Kings won, 93-85.

The incident happened near the end of the third period when Cruz and Fonacier bumped each other. Shortly after, the NLEX wingman was seen holding on to his rib area, prompting coach Yeng Guiao to take him out of the game, never to return.

The 31-year-old Cruz didn’t notice anything wrong with Fonacier afterwards, but nonetheless, approach him and apologized.

Fonacier seemed fine after the accident, according to Cruz, adding, “parang wala naman.”

As it turned, the collision left the NLEX gunner with a fractured rib and a collapsed lung and is currently still confined in the hospital. The injury will keep him out for the remainder of the mid-season tournament, adding to the woes of an NLEX team already without guards Kevin Alas and Kiefer Ravena.

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Curiously, Cruz wasn’t aware of Fonacier’s condition until almost a week after when former Santo Tomas stalwart Christian Luanzon told him about it.